I had lost nearly fifty pounds before anyone mentioned my weight loss. Then, all of the sudden, everybody noticed! As soon as they noticed the questions began. The most often asked: "How much weight have you lost?" People who I barely knew asked me this question as if it were their right to know. I was never sure of the motive for the question? Did they want to celebrate my weight loss? Did they want to gasp knowing just how fat I was?
How much weight have I lost? I have shared the answer with very few people ? it's nobody's business. I know many weight loss patients who are proud of this number and I admire them. I wish I had more confidence in myself. But truthfully, I'm embarrassed by how fat I was and how much weight I had to lose.
These days when I'm asked this question, with a curious tilt of my head I ask back, "Why do you want to know that?" Never has anyone answered my question with a valid response. This data, the number on a scale, means nothing to anyone but me. I don't care to give someone an opportunity to marvel at just how huge I must have been that I could lose that much weight.
Most of the time when I ask in return, "Why do you want to know?" the busybody retreats. In general, we know when we've crossed the line ? sometimes it just takes a gentle reminder. If, however, they persist, I say I prefer not to share that information. Only on one occasion has a nosy person continued to pester me, at which time I said I wouldn't answer a rude question.
I admire the courageous patients who openly and proudly answer this question. Patients who are comfortable sharing this number must by all means include others in their weight loss celebration. We are all different and whether our approach private or public we have only have to answer to ourselves.
Copyright ? 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
apartment cleaning near Highland Park ...Body Mass Index (bmi) A Misleading measure of ObesityMany professionals... Read More
Serious diet pills are intended for people who are overweight... Read More
Here's a letter from my email:Dear Carol,I took your teleclass... Read More
When you begin the decision making process to have Weight... Read More
The Government of the Australian state of Victoria has started... Read More
"I never saw it coming, how did I get so... Read More
Addicted to Restaurants Are you addicted to restaurants? So are... Read More
An ancient practice from Eastern Medicine, bowel cleansing is fast... Read More
If you have ever been snow skiing you know that... Read More
It is a fact that about 70% Americans are overweight.... Read More
Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More
How would you like Julia Roberts to coach you on... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
For years the experts have been telling us that diets... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
If you are overweight and suffer from pain in your... Read More
Are you ready to lose some weight? Perhaps you're surfing... Read More
I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for... Read More
I made myself a sandwich today and thought I'd be... Read More
I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More
Success stories on the gastric bypass are everywhere, but how... Read More
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More
Which diet pill are you currently taking for your weight... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
College weight gain is at an all time high, and... Read More
high-end home cleaning Lake Forest ...With tons of information out there on "Fat Acceptance" does... Read More
We know that children are becoming obese at an alarming... Read More
I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000... Read More
To continue the educational series on your health and fitness... Read More
Are you working hard in the gym 3 times a... Read More
If only there were a 'better body boot camp', we'd... Read More
Your health is affected not only by how much body... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
There are many factors responsible for abdominal fat like processed... Read More
So many people are talking about how slow their metabolism... Read More
"I never saw it coming, how did I get so... Read More
Nice girls don't speak up. Nice girls take care of... Read More
When women talk about their biggest obstacles to successful weight... Read More
Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
Obesity and fast foods - there's little doubt about the... Read More
Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More
The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst... Read More
Have you ever just felt like you were doing everything... Read More
Here are 7 simple habits that can help anyone enjoy... Read More
Weight loss specialists will tell you that attitude has a... Read More
If you know someone that has been trying to lose... Read More
Activity means both mental and physical activity.Mental activity is similar... Read More
It is a fact that about 70% Americans are overweight.... Read More
Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
Weight Loss |